Roads kill millions of wild animals annually, but wildlife crossing structures including underpasses, culverts and bridges dramatically reduce road mortality and reconnect fragmented habitats.
Roads represent one of the most pervasive sources of direct animal suffering and death — invisible to most road users but representing a continuous and enormous toll on wildlife. The deaths are rarely quick: animals hit by vehicles often suffer prolonged injury before dying. Mitigation structures work — fencing prevents access while underpasses and bridges provide safe crossing routes that animals learn to use. The cost per life saved is modest compared to other wildlife management interventions. Mainstreaming road ecology into infrastructure planning and retrofitting mitigation on existing problem roads would prevent vast amounts of animal suffering.